No love ... Michael Hussey bows out of international cricket in Sydney. Source: News Limited

There was a bit of "you're not divorcing me, I'm divorcing you" in Michael Hussey's last day in the Australian team.

There was plenty of love and emotion for Mr Cricket as he steered the side home to victory one last time.

In the stands, they had been chanting his name during the previous partnership. Banners protested their love and gratitude and for the four days of the match his every move had been set against a chorus of cheers.

Australian cricket's army of strategic planners had assumed the left-hander was in lock-step as they attempted to take India before moving on the northern front for the Ashes.

His announcement, before the Sydney Test, that he was going home to be with his wife and four children came as something of a shock even to those close to him.

When he revealed that his mind had been all but made up for some time, there was a touch of chagrin among the generals, who saw their assumptions and presumptions made redundant. "We talked it over with Mike but the overriding fact is what's best for Australian cricket and we move forward and we're very mindful of the 2015 World Cup," Inverarity said.

Fair enough. Plans must be made. You can't take Russia if you haven't been knitting socks and beanies for two years previous. Even an English summer takes a little thought when packing.

Ever the team man, Hussey wasn't too fussed at being told Sunday was his last day playing for Australia -- whatever was best for cricket was fine by him.

"I would have liked to have played (the ODI series), but you know the selectors spoke to me and said they are starting to look towards the 2015 World Cup and that's fine. I understand where they are trying to go," he said.

There was a suggestion that if he hadn't announced his retirement, he would have got to play on, but Hussey seemed more relieved to be finished than upset to have missed out on the 50-over series against Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

A perfectionist and something of an obsessive -- he weighs his bats and shaves them back if there is an extra gram -- the man who has scored more than 6000 Test runs at a world class average of 51 revealed that the game took a toll on him. "In a way, I am quite relieved that it is over now," he said. "The stress, the pressure . . . I can just relax away from that now. I don't have that sick feeling in my stomach before every game, before I bat."

At that point, he turned to Michael Clarke and apologised.

The batsman knew what his decision had done to the captain. Clarke, like everybody in cricket, respects the father of four's decision but is well aware there is him and daylight in the experience stakes now the veteran is gone.

Clarke has played 89 Tests; after him come Phil Hughes (20), Dave Warner (15) and Ed Cowan (13) from batsmen who played this Test. Shane Watson has played 38 Tests but his career is in limbo.

Hussey, unlike Ricky Ponting who was torn with emotion, seems genuinely at peace with his decision. "It probably sunk in a long time ago because I have known for quite some time that this is where I want to finish," he said.

"I have been prepared for it . . . There are definitely aspects of it I am going to miss, being out there when the winning runs are hit in a Test match, helping Australia win a series or being in the change room after the game, singing the team song. They are things you are going to miss but all good things come to an end."

He revealed after the match he was handing the role of "songmaster" to Nathan Lyon. The spinner will be in charge of calling the group into a circle after a win, running through individual achievements and leading the singing.

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